News that Pets at Home had opened a store within a Tesco Extra in Durham raised concerns among independent retailers that it could be the first of many throughout the country. But Pet Trade Xtra has learned that the pet retailer will evaluate the performance of the Durham trial before launching similar stores elsewhere in the UK.

Pet Trade Xtra reported last week that independent pet shops were concerned that products that had never appeared in Tesco were now on the shelves inside the supermarket.

“This is a worry for pet shops which have relied on lines not in the supermarket to draw customer into their shops,” said a retailer in the North-East.

According to Pets at Home, all staff at the new store receive extensive training on pet care and pet knowledge which is endorsed by City & Guilds, providing a stamp of approval that demonstrates the value of its training. Colleagues at the Durham store are dedicated to providing the highest levels of customer service, and are trained to offer great pet care tips and product knowledge.

The store includes a pet pharmacy, which will provide a large range of health care products including supplements, first aid, dental care and flea and worms treatments.

The new store opening hours are 8am-10pm Monday-Saturday and 10am-4pm on Sundays.